News and Events

Terracon plays important role in 120-year-old BNSF Bridge rehabilitation

The 120-year old Bellefontaine railroad bridge spans the Missouri River north of St. Louis and consists of four 440-foot trusses. The open-deck bridge once housed two tracks, but was later reduced to one. In March 2013, BNSF undertook a rehabilitation project on the bridge to enhance its longevity. BNSF called on Terracon to provide health and safety monitoring for its workers during the project. Chris Brewer, P.E., and Jonathan Reber, both from Terracon’s St. Louis office, provided airborne lead, total respirable dust, and noise monitoring. Senior oversight and review was provided by Gary Ganson, CIH, CSP, from Terracon’s Corporate office.

Project completion is planned for November of this year, when crews will use a 60-hour maintenance window to shift the mainline track. The rehabilitated bridge will allow for wider loads to cross the river. The project was highlighted as the cover story for the June 2013 issue of BNSF’s “All Aboard” magazine. BNSF recently requested that Terracon perform similar services for a bridge project in North Dakota. Terracon’s network of professionals, commitment to safety, and ability to provide a consistent client experience regardless of service at multiple locations across the country are just a few reasons why companies like BNSF choose Terracon.